Two Tea Light Holders - Opinions Please

[Gitface]

Hi All

Last week I picked up a load of Chestnut and Sycomore from a client, some had just come down but there was a few pices that had been down a bit longer. While getting the bits I noticed a short log that looked old so thought I'd grab that as well and see if it had spalted.

After wcutting the end off, I found that the spliting was minor, about 10mm in so cut a slice off with the intention of making some tea light holders.

So here they are:

First one.



Second one:



Mark.......

 

[TEP]

The idea, and design is quite good Mark, but the finishing leaves a lot to be desired. I realise that the wood may be soft, and if so you should soak it in sanding sealer, let it dry completely, then try to finish with sharp tools and very light cuts. Also sanding sealer left to dry before sanding helps to stabilise soft timber as well.

Really good attempts IMO.

 

[wizer]

Sorry Mark, I'm not keen. Did you set out with a design in mind or did you 'let the wood speak to you' ? I find that unless I've worked out the general idea I'm trying to achieve before I start, it often turns out harsh on the eye.

I'd go for something much simpler in shape. Practise some gentle sweeping curves and try to get a good finish straight from the tool. Perhaps introduce just one small bead and practice with it, til you get it perfect.

Also, they would look much nicer if the tea light was flush and snug in it's resting place. Leave just enough room for it to plop in and out.

Keep it up

 

[Dave Huxley]

The spalting looks really good, I made quite a few of these last Christmas for my sons restaurant, he already had some wooden tealight holders from else where but unfortunately they had started to burn the wood away when reaching the bottom of the wax, could have caused a fire!

The ones I made were fitted with the glass cups and as someone else mentioned the tops of the tea candles were level with the top of the holder,
I also made the holders a slack fit as I found they expanded when the cups got hot. I bought my glass tea light cups from Ikea, 12p each.

Dave

 

[Bodrighy]

My maiin suggestion would be to gett he space for the night light smaller so that it fits better. Apart from that and the things that Tam has pointed out they look fine. Don't worry too much about design as it is always a personal preference. I would make them a bit shorter for example but that is me.

Pete

 

[hog&bodge]

Hi i like the spliting but with the others on the shape some of the comments
have given me food for thoughts about the fire hazards of tea lights..
I say if they work for you then you have a success..
:lol:

 

[Jenx]

Always good to see more efforts coming Mark ... keep it up !

The more you do, the better you get, or thats the theory anyway ! :lol: ..
Keep 'em coming ! :wink: :lol:

 

[Bodrighy]

have given me food for thoughts about the fire hazards of tea lights.. :lol:

Ideally you put a glass insert in I have some that Chas got for me from Ikea. (we don't have one in Cornwall as far as I kow) The aluminium cases that T lights come in can get very hot so it is better to play safe, especially if you are giving them away or selling them.

Pete

 

[user 5053]

I would of gone for a much larger diameter ie 3inches and straight sides to to give the full beauty of the wood which looks like spalted birch. The objects in the photo look more like napkin rings and the syle and design are a little unsatisfactory. Try all sorts of ideas and sketching them before hand is a good tip.

 

[hog&bodge]

have given me food for thoughts about the fire hazards of tea lights.. :lol:

Ideally you put a glass insert in I have some that Chas got for me from Ikea. (we don't have one in Cornwall as far as I kow) The aluminium cases that T lights come in can get very hot so it is better to play safe, especially if you are giving them away or selling them.

Pete

Have seen the Led tea lights but they do not cut it in the mood department
so glass it is..

 

[Bodrighy]

No no no not LED lights. I mean glass inserts like the ones that chas has used here
and I have used here

It stops the heat being in contact with the wood and also adds that final touch to the light holder

Pete

 

[mark sanger]

Hi Mark

It's always good to use wood gotten from sources as you. Ideally the wood needs to be very dry as the heat from the Tea light will crack it for sure if.

I have never had any issues re fire with a Tea light as long as the metal shielded ones are used as you have here.

It is worth though as has been pointed out being mindful of the fire hazard but you will find lots of Tea light holders in high street shops into which the candle sits straight into the wooden holder. What I do if I sell them is to print off a small sticker which I copied from one in a shop to cover the fire issue. You know Never Leave Burning Unattended etc etc etc. You will not see many people doing this at craft fairs but you do need to cover yourself from a litigation point of view if someone's house burns down.

I use to make these in large quantities and they are a big seller at craft fairs etc.

I use a 38mm saw tooth cutter. A Tea light is around 39-40 mm so you just drill into the end and open it out a mm or two and the job is done. I use a box scraper to open out the hole.

The ones I use to make measure around 100mm tall x 70mm dia in the shape of a tear drop. This shape I found sold the best and you can make production templates once you get up and running with them so that you can make pairs etc of the same size.


I have included a picture some of my ones left over and if it helps just copy these shapes if you like.

I flow the curve down gradually and then curve in from 1/3 from the base into around 20mm. These ones are made of Ash and Sycamore.

Aim for the top of the tea light to be just below the top. From these you can see the front left is not quite deep enough, the back one is about right with the right one being too deep.

If you would like me to let you know the procedure for how I make them then let me know and I will a process for you.

Hope this helps and hope you don't mind me suggesting this.

 

[Jenx]

They're gorgeous, Mark ...
Hope you do the 'how-to' procedure !

Lovely ( as always ! ) 8) :wink: